SpaceX to Launch 4th Axiom Mission to International Space Station in August 2024
SpaceX has announced plans to launch the 4th Axiom mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in August 2024. This comes after NASA had previously signed a contract for three crewed missions to the Space Station.
Axiom had previously contracted SpaceX to launch four Dragon capsules, including three private astronauts and one Axiom employee. However, NASA had only approved three missions to the ISS. With this recent announcement, NASA has confirmed that the 4th trip is scheduled for no earlier than August 2024.
Under the agreement, Axiom will pay for NASA services, which include training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and the Kennedy Space Center, as well as supplies used during the crew’s stay aboard the ISS. The mission is expected to last for 14 days and has contingency plans in place in case of inclement weather or other issues that may hinder the crew’s departure. Reports indicate that the three private astronauts pay a hefty sum of over $55 million per seat.
The crew members for the upcoming mission have not been disclosed yet. However, previous missions have seen former NASA astronaut Michael López-Alegría serving as the commander for Ax-1, while former NASA astronaut and current Axiom Director of Human Spaceflight Peggy Whitson filled the role for Ax-2. For Axiom’s third mission, set to launch in January 2024, López-Alegría is expected to once again serve as the commander.
Axiom Space, not just a “Space Tourism” company, has secured two task orders from NASA. They have been tasked with designing the next Extravehicular Activity suit to be used during the Artemis missions on the Moon. Additionally, Axiom will be responsible for building Space Station modules that will attach and expand the ISS before its eventual transition into a separate private orbiting outpost in the future.
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